After more than 25 years as a Chartered Accountant, Anthony Robertson has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the profession.

Anthony is the Toi Ohomai Executive Director Corporate Services, as well as Executive Director Finance at Eastern Institute of Technology.

In addition to this, he is involved in a number of workstreams to help establish Te Pūkenga, the unified network of polytechnics.

Anthony received his designation as a Fellow of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand in 2021 but was presented with this award at a function held in Tauranga last week.

A CAANZ Fellowship award is granted to a member to recognise outstanding achievement and contribution to the profession of accountancy at either local, national, or international level.

Fellows demonstrate the pre-eminence of the brand and are held in high regard as role models for the profession, encouraging the aspiration of high standards among other members.

Anthony was nominated for outstanding achievement in the profession of accountancy throughout his career.

His nomination states that Anthony has spent his career in the education sector and his contribution to the New Zealand Vocational Educational sector is wide-ranging.

'Anthony's contributions over and above those of a day-to-day CFO include being the lead in merging the 2 predecessor polytechnics, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Waiariki Polytechnic, into the existing polytechnic for the region, Toi Ohomai,” the nomination states.

'ln his spare time, Anthony is very involved in the community through the CAANZ mentorship programme, teaching Athletics to school-aged children and being on the Board of the Tauranga Budget Advisory Service.”

Anthony says he was shocked to receive the call telling him he had been nominated.

'I was away camping. I had to go and find a spot to get better cell phone coverage. It was totally out of the blue.”

He says being nominated by his peers, was humbling and acknowledges the rigorous scrutiny that's involved in the process.

'To know that others in your profession feel this about you and are willing to tell others. Then to go through the scrutiny by panels of peers who recognise and appreciate what you've done – truly humbling.”

Anthony wears many hats and juggles important workloads, which he says wouldn't be possible without a supportive wife, a great team of colleagues and a supportive boss. He says it also gives him a wide range of skills that complement each other.

'Broadly it is using two sets of skill sets. One is the ability to do the work, I've had plenty of experience in accounting and mergers in UK and NZ. Then there is the people bit, you need to recognise that you can't do everything yourself. You have an obligation to develop others. I think I've done that well at work and with the people outside of work that I mentor.”

Anthony credits his career for enabling him to have the personal and work opportunities that have been presented to him. Working in his hometown of Swansea, Wales, to Auckland and everywhere in between.

'I've always held the Chartered Accountancy qualification in high esteem as I know what it can do for you and where it can take you. If you are willing to put the effort in, then it can bring many highlights, both career and personal.”

Anthony says his best advice to others is to understand the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

'Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”